Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams was in Aspen Tuesday (12/15). He spoke to the Pitkin County Commissioners about a new voting system meant to make elections smoother.
The Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder’s office is using voting equipment that’s 15 years old. A new system would count ballots faster and cut costs.
By the end of the month Williams will choose a new voting system that all 64 counties will eventually use. He says new technology will mean improved transparency when questions arise about election results.
"Let’s say someone didn’t fill in a bubble completely but drew a circle. How did that system adjudicate that particular voter’s intent? We want that to be transparent. We want to be transparent in terms of a recount or an audit after the election to ensure it’s accurate."
The cost of a new system statewide will run between $5 million and $25 million. But Williams says it will be cheaper in the long run. For example, paid judges who process ballots won’t be needed as long on election day. Pitkin County wants to have a new system up and running by June for the primary election.